Phytosociology of Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew inhabiting Wadi Tundoub, Southern Eastern Desert, Egypt

The current study suggests conducting measurements of the soil and examining the flora in Wadi Tundoub, located in Egypt's Eastern Desert. The aim is to analyze the species dispersed in 27 stands, associated to the medicinal plant Capparis decidua. Given the extremely dry conditions of Egypt's deserts, this research is crucial for understanding the adaptation and distribution of plants in such environments. A total of sixty-four plant species were counted across the research stands. There were seventeen annuals and forty-seven perennials among them, grouped into 51 genera and 26 distinct families. The TWINSPAN technique, renowned for its efficacy in ecological studies, was harnessed to scrutinize vegetation patterns, culminating in the delineation of four unequivocal vegetation groups. These groups are distinguished by their exclusive floristic compositions, suggesting stark differences in species abundance and distribution. Such refined classifications serve as indispensable tools for conservation strategies, land use planning, and in-depth ecological investigations. A significant correlation was observed between the first four redundancy axes and the contents of sand, clay, water content, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, To display the vegetation pattern in the study areas, classification, and ordination were applied. This research area had a basic xerophytic floristic composition with elements of Saharan Arabia, suggesting that human disturbances had not had a significant impact.